Reynolds, jr
stethoscope



y 1967 w. REYNOLDS, JR 3,319,736

STETHOSCOPE Filed Nov. 9, 1966 I N VEN '1 'OR.

Wal/fer Rgnolds lr B Y v MMV M 3,319,736 Patented May 16, 1957 United States Patent Ofiice 3,319,736 STETHOSCOPE Walker Reynolds, Jr., 305 E. 10th St, Anniston, Ala. 36201 Filed Nov. 9, 1966, Ser. No. %,120 7 Claims. (Cl. 181-24) ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE tended position.

This invention relates to a stethoscope and more particularly to a stethoscope which shall be compact and have a chest piece which shall be adapted for use selectively as a bell-type chest piece having a large opening therein and as an adjustable diaphragm type chest piece having a variable opening therein.

An object of my invention is to provide a stethoscope of the character designated in which the'volume of air through which conduction takes place is reduced to a minimum, thus increasing the efficiency or loudness with which the sounds are transmitted to the ears.

Another object of my invention is to provide a stethoscope in which the collecting tube comprises a plurality of telescoping sections which are adapted for movement to selected'positions relative to each other whereby the overall length of the stethoscope may be contracted or extended. i

A further object of my invention is to provide a stethoscope of the character designated which shall be movable to a compact, collapsed position and which shall have a relatively flat chest piece whereby the stethoscope may be carried in the pocket of a user, thus maintaining the chest piece warm and comfortable when applied to the skin of a patient.

As is well known in the art to which my invention relates, an ideal stethoscope includes an open, bell-type chest piece for the detection of low-pitched sounds and a closed, diaphragm type chest piece of a large convenient size for the detection of high-pitched sounds. Composite chest piece units have been proposed which have an open, bell-type chest piece at one side thereof and a closed, diaphragm type chest piece at the other side thereof. Such chest piece units are not only expensive to manufacture but the overall depth of the chest piece unit is greatly increased whereby the stethoscope cannot be carried with ease in coat pockets. Also, the overall depth of the hollow cavity in the chest piece is greatly increased, thus increasing the volume of air through which conduction takes place. Furthermore, stethoscopes heretofore employed have relatively long rubber-like collecting tubes which are not only difficult to place within a coat pocket, but increase greatly the volume of air through which conduction takes place.

In accordance with my present invention, I provide a compact stethoscope which is adapted to move from a collapsed to an extended position. To further. reduce the overall size of the stethoscope and reduce the volume of air through which conduction takes place, I provide a composite chest piece which includes an adjustable diaphragm at one side of the hollow cavity in the chest piece together with means to vary the effective open area of the diaphragm whereby the chest piece is operable selectively as a substantially open type and as a diaphragm type chest piece having a variable opening there- 1n.

Stethoscopes embodying features of my invention are illustrated in the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this application, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of my improved stethoscope showing the extended position thereof in solid lines and the contracted position in dotted lines;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front elevational view of the chest piece for the stethoscope shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the chest piece shown in FIG. 2, partly broken away and in section;

FIG. 5 is an elevational view showing a modified form of my invention in which each ear piece is connected to one end of an extensible collecting tube with the other end of each collecting tube being connected to a common. chest piece; and

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view form of chest piece.

Referring now to the drawing for a better understanding of my invention, I show an accumulator or chest piece generally at It). The chest piece 10 is connected to one end of an extensible collecting tube 11 which comprises a plurality of telescoping sections, 12, 13 and 14. The telescoping sections are adapted for movement relative to each other whereby the collecting tube may be moved selectively from the extended position shown in solid lines in FIG. 1 to the retracted or collapsed position shown in dotted lines in FIG. 1. Preferably, the telescoping sections 12, 13 and 14 are formedof tubular materiaL-such as metal or other suitable tubular material which is substantially rigid or semi-rigid. In View of the fact that telescoping tubular members having means as sociated therewith to prevent separationof the members from each other are well known in the art, no further description thereof is deemed necessaryf Communicating with the opening in the tubular section 12 is a sleeve-like member 16. Pivotally connected to opposite ends of the sleeve 16 are ear pieces indicated generally at 17 and 18. The ear pieces 17 and 18, are provided with ear engaging members 19 and 21, respectively. A suitable binaural spring 22 is positioned with in the confines of the ear pieces 17 and 18 and is connected thereto by suitable clips 23 and 24, respectively, whereby the desired degree of tension is applied to the ear pieces to hold the ear engaging member 19 and 21 in the ears without discomfort to the user. The ear pieces 17 and 18 and the spring 22 thus provide a binaural for the stethoscope.

As shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, the chest pieces 10 comprises a housing 26 having a hollow, shallow cavity 27 therein. An adjustable, iris diaphragm 28 comprising a plurality of thin plates 29 is mounted at the outer side of the cavity 27, as shown in FIG. 4. A movable, annular member 30 is operatively connected to the thin plates 29 of the iris diaphragm in a manner well understood in the art whereby upon rotation of the annular member 30 in one direction, thediameter of the central opening in the diaphragm 28 is enlarged While rotation of the annular member 30 in the opposite direction, the diameter of the central opening is reduced. Accordingly, upon rotation of the annular member 30 in a direction to reduce the size of the central opening, the diaphragm 28 substantially closes the hollow cavity 27 whereby the chest piece 10 is adapted for use as a substantially closed, diaphragm type chest piece. On the other hand, upon rotating the annular member 30 in the opposite direction, the plates move outwardly to selected positions whereby the central opening may be of various diameters showing a modified whereby the chest piece is operable as a bell-type chest piece having a large opening therein or as a diaphragm type chest piece having variable size openings therein. As shown in FIG. 4, the cavity 27 is relatively shallow so as to reduce the volume of air passing therethrough to a minimum whereby the efficiency or loudness with which sounds are transmitted to the cars is increased. A suitable passageway 31 is provided in the housing 26 whereby the shallow cavity 27 is in communication with the adjacent end of the collecting tube 11. In view of the fact that adjustable, iris-type diaphragms are well known in the art, no further description thereof is deemed necessary.

Referring now to FIG. of the drawing, I show a modified form of my invention in which the hollow cavity in the chest piece is in communication with oppositely disposed conduits 32 and 33. The ends of the conduits 32 and 33 are pivotally connected to and in communication with tubular sections 14a and 14b. Suitable hollow swivel joints 34 are provided between the conduits 32 and 33 and their respective tubular sections, as shown. Also, a binaural spring 22a is interposed between the tubular sections 14a and 14b and is connected thereto by clip members 23a and 24a.

Telescoping within the tubular sections 14a and 14b are tubular sections 13a and 13b, respectively. In like manner, telescoping within the tubular sections 13a and 13b are tubular sections 12a and 12b, respectively. The outer or free ends of the tubular sections 12a and 12b are curved inwardly as at 36 and 37, respectively. Ear engaging members 19a and 21a are carried by the ends of the tubular sections 12a and 12b, as shown.

The telescoping tubular sections 12a, 13a, 14a, 12b, 13b and 14b thus define a pair of separate collecting tubes for the stethoscope and at the same time provide ear pieces therefor. The collecting tubes for the stethoscope shown in FIG. 5 are adapted to move from the extended position shown in solid lines to the retracted or collapsed position shown in dotted lines.

In FIG. 6 of the drawing, I show a still further modified form of my invention in which the chest piece, indicated at 10a, is provided with a housing 26, hollow, shallow cavity 27 and a passageway 31, as described hereinabove. Instead of providing an iris diaphragm, the adjustable diaphragm comprises a fixed section 38 which comprises one-half of the adjustable diaphragm. A movable section 39 is pivotally connected to the fixed section 38 by a pivot pin 41 whereby the movable section is adapted to move from the solid line position shown in FIG. 6, whereby the entire diaphragm is closed, to the dotted line position shown in FIG. 6. With the movable section 39 in the dotted line position shown in FIG. 6, an opening, indicated by the arrow 42 is provided in the diaphragm. Accordingly, the effective open area of the diaphragm may be readily varied so that the chest piece 10a is operable selectively as a chest piece having a large opening therein and as adiaphragm type chest piece having a variable opening therein. The movable section 39 carries an outwardly projecting actuating member 43 which is engaged by the finger of the user to thus rotate the movable section 39 to selected angular positions relative to the fixed diaphragm section 38.

From the foregoing description, the operation of my improved stethoscope will be readily understood. While not in use, the telescoping tubular sections are moved toward collapsed position relative to each other, as shown in dotted lines in FIGS. 1 and 5 whereby the stethoscope may be carried in a pocket. To use the stethoscope shown in FIG. 1, the collecting tube 11 is pivoted 180 in an angular direction from the dotted line position to the solid line position relative to the ear pieces 17 and 18 and the telescoping sections are moved to extended position, as shown in solid lines in FIG. 1. To employ the stethoscope shown in FIG. 5, the telescoping sections are moved from the dotted line position to the solid line position whereby the ear engaging members 19a and 21a are in position to move within the ears of a user.

T o employ the adjustable diaphragm 28 as a substantially closed, diaphragm-type chest piece, the annular member is moved in a direction to cause the thin plates 29 to move inwardly to the dotted line position shown in FIG. 2 whereby substantially the entire area inwardly of the annular member 30 is closed to thus provide a substantially closed diaphragm-type chest piece. On the other hand, to employ the chest piece 10 as a substantially open, bell-type chest piece or as a chest piece having variable size openings therein, the annular member 30 is rotated in the opposite direction whereupon the thin plates 29 move outwardly to enlarge the central opening at the chest piece. Accordingly, the diameter of the central opening within the chest piece 10 may be readily varied by rotating the annular member in a manner well understood in the art for iris-type diaphragms.

To operate the chest piece 10a shown in FIG. 6, the actuating member 43 is moved to the solid line position shown in FIG. 6 while the chest piece is to be employed as a closed, diaphragm-type unit. On the other hand, to employ the chest piece as a bell-type unit having a large opening therein, the actuating member 43 is moved in a counterclockwise direction, 'as viewed in FIG. 6 whereby the movable member 39 is moved to the dotted line position or any other selected position to vary the effective open area of the diaphragm. By rotating the movable member 39 the movable member 39 would be directly back of the stationary member 38 whereby one-half of the area would be open.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that I have devised an improved stethoscope which greatly reduces the volume of air through which conduction takes place whereby the efficiency or loudness with which sounds are transmitted to the cars is increased. By providing a chest piece having an adjustable diaphragm at one side thereof, the chest piece may be employed selectively as a belltype chest piece having a large opening therein and as a diaphragm-type chest piece having a variable opening therein, thus reducing the thickness of the chest piece unit and greatly reducing the cost of construction. Furthermore, by providing extensible collecting tubes for the stethoscope, the stethoscope may be readily moved from an extended position to a collapsed position with a minimum of elfort.

While I have shown my invention in several forms, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that it is not so limited, but is susceptible of various other changes and modifications without departing from the spirit thereof, and I desire, therefore, that only such limitations shall be placed thereupon as are specifically set forth in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A stethoscope comprising:

(a) ear pieces communicating with one end of at least one collecting tube,

(b) a chest piece having a hollow, shallow cavity therein communicating with the other end of said collecting tube,

(c) an adjustable diaphragm at one side of said hollow cavity having section movable relative to each other to vary the elfective open area of said diaphragm, and

(d) actuating means operatively connected to said sections to move the sections relative to each other to vary said effective open area of said diaphragm so that said chest piece is operable selectively as a substantially open type and as a diaphragm type chest piece having a variable opening therein.

2. A stethoscope as defined in claim 1 in which the collecting tube comprises a plurality of telescoping sections disposed to move relative to each other from a collapsed position to an extended position.

3. A stethoscope as defined in claim 1 in which the diaphragm is an adjustable iris diaphragm having a plurality of thin plates movable by an annular member so as to change the diameter of a central opening.

4. A stethoscope as defined in claim 1 in Which the diaphragm comprises at least one fixed section and at least one movable section movable to selected angular positions relative to said fixed section so as to vary the efiective open area of the diaphragm.

5, A stethoscope as defined in claim 1 in which the ear pieces are carried by a binaural which in turn communicates intermediate its ends with one end of an extensible collecting tube comprising a plurality of telescoping sections movable relative to each other.

6. A stethoscope as defined in claim 1 in which each ear piece is carried by and communicates With one end of a pair of extensible collecting tubes with the other ends of said collecting tubes communicating with said hollow cavity in the chest piece.

7. A stethoscope as defined in claim 1 in which the collecting tube is connected pivotally to the chest piece so that the chest piece is movable to selected angular positions relative to said collecting tube.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS STEPHEN I. TOMSKY, Primary Examiner. 

1. A STETHOSCOPE COMPRISING: (A) EAR PIECES COMMUNICATING WITH ONE END OF AT LEAST ONE COLLECTING TUBE, (B) A CHEST PIECE HAVING A HOLLOW, SHALLOW CAVITY THEREIN COMMUNICATING WITH THE OTHER END OF SAID COLLECTING TUBE, (C) AN ADJUSTABLE DIAPHRAGM AT ONE SIDE OF SAID HOLLOW CAVITY HAVING SECTION MOVABLE RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER TO VARY THE EFFECTIVE OPEN AREA OF SAID DIAPHRAGM, AND (D) ACTUATING MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTED TO SAID SECTIONS TO MOVE THE SECTIONS RELATIVE TO EACH OTHER TO VARY SAID EFFECTIVE OPEN AREA OF SAID DIAPHRAGM SO THAT SAID CHEST PIECE IS OPERABLE SELECTIVELY AS A SUBSTANTIALLY OPEN TYPE AND AS A DIAPHRAGM TYPE CHEST PIECE HAVING A VARIABLE OPENING THEREIN. 